Chapter 49
Utakata's hands rubbed on the back of Ringo as she moaned. She relaxed further at Utakata's touch and leaned back. Utakata focused further as his hands roamed from her upper back to her lower. Not a spot was left untouched. Her soft skin and rough muscles tensed upon certain places, and Utakata concentrated on them.
"Will you stop it?" Utakata asked with a bright red face as Ringo let out another moan. "I can't focus on you moaning all over the place."
"And whose fault it is?" Ringo asked back with a teasing smile.
"Of course, it is yours," Utakata replied. "You pushed yourself too much. With how stiff your muscles are, I can't check on your condition. So, the least you could do is to stop moaning like a cat in heat and let me focus."
"You are no fun. Ouch!" Ringo yelled as Utakata pinched her. "What was that for?"
"Let's see if you will find this fun," Utakata replied and started to pinch her soft spots.
"Ouch! Stop it! No, seriously, stop it! I am sorry, please stop it."
"Fine, fine," Utakata agreed since he already finished the checkup. "For the most part, you are fine. Rest for a day, and I will continue your treatment. I still need to prepare some medicine for you."
Ringo's condition wasn't that good, though. Even after a full day of rest, her heart was still beating erratic. Her muscles wouldn't relax on their own, and it felt like Ringo was still prepared to fight at any moment. It was concerning, and he needed to start the treatment as fast as possible before it got any worse.
After the battle with Yagura, Mei managed to take control of the village. It would have been a lot worse for her if Yagura had not been taken alive and confirmed that he was indeed under genjutsu. With cooperation, the hostilities between Mei forces and Yagura's ended peacefully. And since Mei proved to be stronger, even if she used Utakata, nobody disagreed with her taking the position of the fifth Mizukage.
With Mei in control, Utakata was allowed to stay in the village for a while. But it wouldn't last for long. Utakata was still a traitor who killed two of the Seven Swordsmen and many other Mist shinobi. Even Mei couldn't do anything about it. The way the other shinobi looked at him told Utakata enough. He wasn't welcomed here.
He didn't mind, though. Utakata had no intention of staying in the village for longer than necessary. Once he finishes Ringo's treatment, he will take Kimimaro and leave. He didn't know where he would go or what he would do, but somehow he wasn't too worried. After stopping Yagura, Utakata felt like he had repaid Master Harusame, and he could have put his past behind him.
"Stop running, you runt!"
Somehow, after leaving Ringo's house, Utakata wandered over the training grounds. He was so occupied in his thoughts that he didn't realize he was following Kimimaro's chakra. And so he stumbled over Mangetsu and him fighting each other. It was hard to tell if it was a spar or a death match. Even without his swords, Mangetsu was using everything to kill Kimimaro, while the last of Kaguya was running for his life.
But it was the Mist, so this wasn't a rare sight. Broken bones and flesh wounds were expected from the spars. And so far, it didn't seem that Kimimaro was too injured. Though he didn't stand a chance against Mangetsu and was trying to evade every attack coming at him, he wasn't given a chance to counterattack even once.
Since he was already here, Utakata decided to watch the fight. For his age, Kimimaro was quite fast and smart. Using his bones to defend and attack, he couldn't evade. But Mangetsu was on another level. If he learns to control his temper and arrogance, he will become someone to be feared one day. But right now, as much as skilled he was, his personality was his downfall.
Compering Mangetsu and Kimimaro, Utakata could tell that Kimimaro was more mature than his age would indicate. After what he had experienced and having lived alone, this probably shouldn't be a surprise. Even if he lacked basic skills and experience, Kimimaro was still a capable fighter. Utakata couldn't even imagine what Kimimaro would be able to achieve once he was taught the basics.
Utakata couldn't help but smile as he realized he was already thinking of Kimimaro as his student. He thought of leaving Kimimaro behind in the Mist since Mei was now in charge, but the Kaguya clan wasn't very liked in the village. Their unprovoked attack on the Mist shinobi was still clearly remembered, and if he were left here, Kimimaro would face discrimination.
"Caught you now, brat," Mangetsu finally was able to go around Kimimaro's defenses and caught the boy by his throat before slamming him to the ground. "Grit your teeth."
"That's enough," Utakata caught Mangetsu's fist. "You won."
"Tch," Mangetsu clicked his tongue as he glared at Utakata. "Bunch of traitors. Of course, you would stick together."
"If you don't like it, do something about it," Utakata replied, locking his eyes with Mangetsu.
With a huff, Mangetsu yanked his hand free and left. Utakata was worried about the future of the Seven Swordsmen if Mangetsu was going to lead them. Like the rest of the Hosuki clan, he was too bloodthirsty. Utataka had to wonder how Mei was going to control people like him. There were plenty like him in the village, after all.
"Thanks, sensei," Speaking of violent people.
"How did you two start fighting?"
"Oh, I heard him bragging to his little brother that he would one day kill the traitors like you, Zabuza, and Kisame and take your sword back, so I kind of told him he was full of shit and that he smelled like it."
"So, you wanted to fight him?" Utakata asked, wondering how he should teach Kimimaro in the future.
"He isn't that tough without his fancy swords."
"And you would have already been dead without your ability to control the bones in your body."
Utakata wondered now if it was right to teach him how to fight. Who knows what he will do once he gets better? He could already imagine the boy picking fights right and left. He wouldn't be the first Kaguya clan member to act like this. But he couldn't let this influence him too much. Utakata had to believe that with the right lessons taught, Kimimaro wouldn't use his powers for petty things.
…
Utakata wouldn't even try to understand what kind of political hell Mei was right now. Her abrupt coup was as successful as it could be. Not only did she defeat Yagura and show the village that she was stronger, but she also had Yagura left alive and made him cooperate in handing out his power to her.
Still, like Mangetsu, there were plenty of people who didn't like new policies and the fact that Utakata was involved in this battle. It wasn't his business, though. He did what he could and now could only leave the rest to the others. And Mei was the most suitable to do it. She was going to do everything she could to change the village for the better—that is, if the village wanted to change.
"How long are you going to stare at me in silence when you asked to meet me?" Yagura asked as Utakata looked at him, sitting on the floor and reading Icha-Icha Paradise of all things. "Did you come to mock me or something?"
"You look better than I imagined, especially for a prisoner," Even though Yagura stayed at his house, he was watched at all times and not allowed to leave without permission. "The retirement suits you well."
"I lost; I accepted that." Yagura was also calmer than Utakata expected. "Fighting Mei will only hurt the village. I don't know what your opinion of me is, but I do care for this village. It is my home, and I would give anything for it."
"You don't believe she can do it, do you?"
"It has been decades since we adopted the ideal of the strongest," Yagura replied. "Maybe she can change it, but who says it will be for the best? The rules of the world have not changed. Only the strongest survive."
"I guess I won't be able to change your mind."
"You lost it, Utakata," Yagura looked at Utakata's eyes. "The coldness in your eyes is gone. And that will kill you. You no longer possess the ability to do everything and anything to survive."
"Yet in exchange, I got a new chance to live," Utakata said.
"Not for long. You know well what this world does to kind people. Soon enough, you will be reminded how cruel this world is. But at that time, it will already be too late for you."
"Thank you for the advice," Utakata replied. "I give you one, too, and it won't be as vague as what you said. There is an organization called Akatsuki. Kisame has joined them, and their goal is to capture the Tailed Beasts, and they will come after you sooner or later."
"I will be on the lookout for them. You don't need to concern yourself with my safety."
"That's not what I meant," Utakata continued. "When the time comes, I want you to die. If there even a minute chance they get the Three-Tails, I want you to kill yourself and not let it happen."
"Ha," Yagura laughed as Utakata turned to leave after saying his piece. "You might have left the Mist, but the Bloody Mist is still in you. For how long can you hold it back, I wonder."
Utakata didn't reply, nor did he acknowledge what Yagura had said. Whatever Yagura meant by it, Utakata disagreed. He has left that life behind, and whatever comes at him in the future, he will confront it not as a shinobi of the Mist. Now, he can confidently say that.
…
Utakata worked tirelessly for the next week, making medicine for Ringo and using his healing jutsu to help her. By the end of the week, he finally saw the results that made him relieved. For a moment he was starting to think that he wasn't going to be able to heal her. But seeing her getting better and better with each day as Utakata helped her, made him proud of his accomplishments.
"Does this make you the best medic in the village?" Ringo asked as Utakata finished treating her. "You are the only one who was able to help me after all."
"It isn't like this village was famed for its medical research. So it isn't that impressive of an accomplishment."
"Just take the compliment next time, you won't sound like an asshole."
"I keep that in mind next time."
"So that's it?" Ringo suddenly asked. "Are you going to leave for good this time?"
"You know I can't stay," Utakata said. "And I don't want to stay. I have done what I have set myself to do. Now it is up to Mei and you."
"That's not what I meant."
"Don't worry," Utakata replied with a smile. "I am sure we will meet again. So, take care of yourself and don't worry about me. I will be fine."
"Why would I worry about you?" Ringo asked. "For all I care, you can die in a ditch."
"I sure I won't."
Utakata didn't have much else to say to her, and she didn't want to hear it. He could only appreciate having her as a friend and hold the memories they made together fondly. And since she was now healed up, Utakata didn't need to worry about her. Ringo is strong enough to take care of herself, and with Mei in charge of the village, he finally can leave it all behind.
"What are you going to do now?" Ringo asked before Utakata finished his last checkup.
"I will travel and help people who need help," Utakata said. "I will teach Kimimaro as best as I can and prepare myself."
"Prepare for what?"
"For what the future will bring to me."
…
Utakata wondered when the Mist became such a beautiful village. Maybe he just never noticed how unique and brilliant the mist covering most of the houses was. It was peaceful and calming; it was nothing he had remembered it to be. Utakata could only amuse himself at how funny it was that things changed as he let them go.
He was glad to see the Mist for one last time before he left. Walking through it at night, knowing that nothing was binding him to it anymore, made all his past experiences not so tragic as he remembered them. Now, he could see why Master Harusame loved this place so much, why Yagura and others thought so highly of it. It might be for different reasons, but it was still a home for them and Utakata.
"You sure it is okay to leave without telling anyone?" Kimimaro asked as they walked through the village gates.
"They know," Utakata answered as he sensed shinobi watching them. "And I never was good with goodbyes."
"Where are we going, sensei?"
"I heard the Land of Waves is a nice place," Utakata replied with a smile. "I will be a great place to teach you and for me to learn a few things."
It was time to do what he should have done long ago: accept the Six Tails and learn how to harness its powers fully. Their survival depended on it. But he also knew that he couldn't take on the people who would come after him alone. It was time to make some friends, and he would wait for the first one in the Land of Waves.
A.N. I'm Sorry the last few chapters were a bit rushed. I wanted to wrap up this portion of the story before I leave. When I pick it up next time, I will probably start with a time skip straight to the Land of Waves arc of Naruto.